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Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal, which is effective in both men and women, is the removal of unwanted body hair that causes aesthetic concerns with a laser device. The effectiveness of laser hair removal varies depending on the physical and hormonal structure of the person, skin and hair color, the hardness of the hair in the area to be treated, the correct selection of the application device, the skill of the personnel performing the application, and many other factors.
What is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser technology was developed based on quantum theory, of which Albert Einstein was the architect. The laser device development process, which first started in 1917, was completed in 1960 after many trials and errors. The laser devices produced at this time were first used in the military and in factories during the production phase. The use of lasers in the medical field could only be started in 1983 and later. The origin of laser hair removal application dates back to 1994. The first laser-based hair removal devices came into use in 1994. The institution that approved the use of devices that will make it possible to perform laser hair removal to the person is the US-based FDA in 1998. As a result of this process, laser hair removal application has spread rapidly around the world and in our country.
The most important advantage of laser hair removal technology, which is also applied very successfully in our country, is that it is extremely healthy and permanent. Other types of epilation may require the procedure to be repeated after a while. But when it comes to laser hair removal, it is not possible to talk about the existence of such a situation. Thanks to laser technology, unwanted hair is permanently removed from the body and never grows back. In addition, laser hair removal is a very painless and comfortable method compared to waxing and other similar methods.
When laser hair removal is applied, the focus is not on removing hair on the body. Because in cases where only visible hair is removed, the body starts to grow hair again due to the function of the hair follicles in the body. For this reason, the main purpose of laser hair removal is to destroy the hair follicles in the body and to change the function of the cells in the area where the procedure is applied and to ensure that hair does not grow again. Laser hair removal can be applied in every part of the body. It is very important not to shave the hair in the area where the person wants to have laser epilation for 2-3 weeks before the procedure.
In this way, the original size, amount, hardness and other characteristics of the hair become more easily understood by the doctor. A planning is made by the doctor according to the patient’s wishes and the condition of the hair. Then, the area where the procedure will be applied is cleaned according to the plan. Epilation is applied to the cleaned area with laser devices selected according to the person. The procedure may need to be repeated several times to achieve complete success.
How is laser hair removal applied?
In the first stage of the procedure, the appropriate laser device is selected. The person wears protective goggles during the procedure and the laser device is switched on. The laser device scans the areas on the skin with single shots. The laser reflected from the device is transmitted to the hair follicles and the hair follicles are destroyed. During the procedure, cold air is applied to the skin from inside the device to make the person comfortable. Thus, the procedure proceeds painlessly and without side effects. Since cold is applied, the person usually does not experience redness. The resulting redness heals in a short time.
What are the Types of Laser Hair Removal?
There are 4 laser types that can be selected according to the condition of the person during laser hair removal application. In order for the epilation procedure to give the best result, it is extremely important to choose the most suitable laser type for the person before the procedure. The doctor decides which laser method to choose by examining the hair structure, hair color and skin structure of the person’s body. The main difference between the selected lasers is the wavelength between them. The wavelength basically determines how much the laser penetrates the skin and hair follicles. The laser hair removal types commonly used today can be listed as Ruby Laser, Diode Laser, Alexandrite Laser and Nd Yag Laser.
Alexandrite Laser: One of the most commonly used types of hair removal today is Alexandrite laser hair removal. The wave size of this type of laser epilation devices is 755. Devices of this type are very comfortable and practical. Since the head part where the laser is projected is quite large and wide, it affects more areas in a shorter time and does not damage the tissues near the epilated area. Alexandrite laser devices show the greatest success in people with light skin color and dark hair. After the procedure applied to the person, the hairs are instantly removed from the surface. Since it also contains a cooling feature, the person does not feel pain during the procedure. Despite its many advantages, Alexandrite laser may pose a risk to people with dark skin color. This is because the melanin in the body strongly retains the rays from the alexandrite laser. Therefore, it is not correct to use this method except for light-colored skin. In addition, the area where the Alexandrite laser method will be applied is also important. Because when it is used in the face area, it may sometimes have the opposite effect and cause the hair to increase rather than decrease. In addition, the effectiveness of this laser is not very high in the shoulder, arm and back areas.
Diode Laser: The wave size of diode laser hair removal devices is 810. The wavelength is longer compared to other laser methods. Therefore, this type of laser devices can also give effective results in people with dark skin color. However, diode laser is actually a very effective method for the removal of fine hair. Since the wavelength of this device is long, it can reach deeper areas of the skin compared to other laser devices. Thanks to this feature, it gives successful results in deep areas of the skin and in areas with ingrown hairs. A cooling gel is applied to the person to reduce pain during the procedure. It is a laser hair removal method that can be applied to both light-skinned and dark-skinned people.
Which Areas is Laser Hair Removal Applied to?
Laser hair removal can be applied to almost every part of the body. However, it is very important to choose the right device according to the area where epilation is performed. In addition, the eye area should not come into contact with laser beams during the procedure. For this reason, special glasses can be worn to reduce the risk. Except for the eye socket and inner ear areas, the rest of the body is suitable for laser hair removal. The areas where laser epilation can be performed are listed below:
Chest Area Laser Hair Removal
This epilation area is frequently preferred by men. Depending on the wishes of the person, all the hair in the chest area can be removed or the number of hairs can be reduced and diluted. Depending on the skin color of the person in the chest area, Alexandrite or Diode type laser devices can be used.
Leg Area Laser Hair Removal
It is an epilation area frequently preferred by women and men. The hair on the upper and lower legs can be removed together or separately. Since the hair on the leg usually covers a large area, the number of sessions that the person needs to have epilation may be more than in other areas.
Genital Areas Laser Hair Removal
Genital hair removal is an extremely harmless and easy way to get rid of unwanted hair. No tissue or organ associated with the genital area is damaged during the procedure. Laser epilation in this area gives very successful results. Since the hair in the area is usually thick and dark colored, it may take 5 – 6 sessions to complete the procedure.
Back Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal in the back area is often preferred by men. There are many people who undergo laser hair removal not only for aesthetic reasons but also to prevent the danger of ingrown hairs. In addition, since people generally cannot remove the hair on their backs on their own, laser hair removal in this area will be a very comfortable option. Lasers that have the ability to go deep are generally used in epilation procedures performed on the back. For this reason, Diode type lasers are generally used in the back area. Other laser types generally cannot reach the deep hair follicles on the back.
Arm Area Laser Hair Removal
Laser epilation on the arm area takes around 10 sessions on average. The hair in this area usually has a fine structure. Therefore, Diode laser gives better results on the arm. The season should also be taken into consideration before having laser epilation on the arm area. In the summer months, when people usually wear open-sleeved clothes, the epilated area will become sensitive and exposed to the sun, so negative side effects may occur in the person. Therefore, winter is generally preferred for arm epilation.
Neck Area Laser Hair Removal
Neck laser hair removal is an application preferred mostly by men. Due to hair growth in the neck area, ingrown hair and acne formation can be seen frequently. At the same time, the individual may irritate the skin with a razor or machine while shaving and cause bleeding. Laser hair removal is the most effective method to solve these problems. Depending on the person’s wishes, the hair in the area can be thinned or completely removed.
Nape Area Laser Hair Removal
Many people are disturbed by hair growth on the neck and back. Although this hair growth is usually seen in men, it can sometimes also be seen in women. In cases where the hair on the nape is very thin, the laser method is less likely to be successful. Since the hair on the nape is denser in men than in women, the success rate is higher. Nevertheless, it may take approximately 10 sessions to completely remove the hair in the area.
Bikini Area Laser Hair Removal
Laser application in the bikini area gives very successful results. The laser procedure can continue for about 6 sessions. After this process, no hair formation is observed in the bikini area.
Armpit Laser Hair Removal
Armpit laser hair removal applications are a type of hair removal that can be applied by everyone. Both women and men prefer this application for its great convenience. In addition, there are also many aesthetic and hygienic reasons. The armpit area is an area that responds positively to laser epilation. In approximately 4 – 6 sessions, the hairs that the person has are diluted or completely eliminated. In addition, by removing the hair in the area, the risk of ingrown hair under the armpit is also eliminated. Epilation in this area does not cause any harm to the lymph nodes. Because the rays given to the body during epilation are directed to the upper layer of the skin and cannot penetrate to the lower layers.
How Many Sessions Does Laser Hair Removal Take?
The number of sessions of laser epilation varies depending on the area and hair structure. However, in most cases the procedure takes 6 hours. The number of sessions may increase to 10 in areas with fine hair such as face, neck and arms. Sessions are held every 1.5 – 2 months on average. In the face area, this period decreases to 1 per month. Armpit, bikini area and lower leg take between 4 – 8 sessions. The arm and back areas may take between 6 – 12 sessions due to their large structure. In general, dark colored hairs are more easily removed by laser method. Since light colored hairs contain less melanin, they absorb the laser less. Therefore, the procedure may take longer for people with light colored hair.
Things to Consider Before Laser Hair Removal What are they?
Before the first session of laser hair removal, the person should not perform any procedures that will remove the hair from the root (waxing, tweezing, epilator, etc.) for at least 1 month. Because in order for the laser epilation process to be successful, the laser must be able to reach the hair root. Procedures such as tanning or solarium also reduce the likelihood of success of epilation as it will change the structure of the skin. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid excessive sunbathing and solarium for at least 1 month before the procedure. In addition, if the person is taking any medication related to skin diseases or acne, he/she should share this information with his/her doctor.
Who Can't Have Laser Hair Removal?
Cancer patients, those with light-induced diseases (SLE, porphyria, epilepsy), HIV-positive (AIDS virus carriers), those with active infection in the treatment area or skin diseases such as Psoriasis, Vitiligo should not have laser hair removal.
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